Dispensing container



June 27, 1939. Q B T DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed July 6, 1937 @mm 0. mu

H I 5 ATTORNEYS Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to containers for semifluid materials in the nature of cosmetic creams, and other viscous substances, and includes among its objects and advantages theprovision of an improved dispensing container.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view along the line i-l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention I make use of a container l having a threaded neck I2 for threaded connection with the flange I4 of a cover l6. Within the container I6 I mount a piston l8 having a boss provided with a threaded opening 22 for connection with a screw 24. About the periphery of the piston I6 I provide a flange 26 which fits snugly against the inner face of the wall 28 of the container.

The inner face of the wall 26 is provided with a plurality of inwardly projecting ribs 36, and the flange or skirt 26 of the piston is slotted at 32 to. closely embrace the ribs 36, which slots divide the flange 26 into segments or reaches 34. Piston I8 is slightly dished with its concavity facing the bottom 36 of the container.

Screw 24 includes a neck 38 of smaller diameter than the screw, which neck projects through an opening 40 in the cover l6. Shoulder 42 on the screw 24 bears against the inner face of the cover l6. Upon the neck 38, exteriorally of the cover I6, I mount a knob 44 which is fixedly connected with the neck as by a pressed fit or other suitable means. The end 46 of the knob 44 bears against the outer face of the cover l6. It will thus be seen that the screw 24 is rotatably mounted but is restrained from endwise movement in either direction.

The bottom 36 has an inner surface conforming to the shape of the piston l8 and the bottom is provided with grooves 48 for accommodating the reaches 34 of the flange 26 when the piston is moved to the bottom of the container. I provide the screw 24 with an outlet bore 50 for the materials to be extruded. This bore may be closed at its upper end by means of a plug 52.

In operation, the contents of the container l0 may be extruded through the bore 50 by rotating the screw 24 through the medium of the knob 44. Knob 44 is rotated in a clockwise di rection when viewing Fig. 2 for extruding purposes. Rotation of the screw 24 moves the piston l8 downwardly, which applies pressure to the contents and forces the material upwardly through the bore 56. Ribs 36 restrain the piston from rotary movement but are so related to the piston as to offer little resistance thereto as it is moved downwardly.

Piston l8 may comprise thin sheet metal or other material of a slightly flexible nature. In rotating the screw 24, pressure forces transmitted to the piston are also transmitted to the segments 34 which tend to press the flanges into 10 more eflective sealing relation with the wall of the container so as to prevent leakage therebe-' tween. Because of the grooves 48, complete extrusion is attained since the grooves are of suiiicient depth to completely house the segments 34, which permits the piston I! to be moved into contacting relation with the bottom 36.

Referring to Fig. 2, the knob 44 includes concaved sides 54 so arranged as to provide three equally spaced flanges 56. In operation, the 20 knob 44 is grasped by the thumb and first two fingers of thehand by placing the thumb and fingers within the concavities 54. Thus, an effective grip may be had on the knob to facilitate rotation for extruding purposes. With the 1315 thumb and fingers grasping the knob 44 and rotation applied thereto, the extruded material is delivered between thethumb and the fingers so as to be readily picked up. I may provide the cover it with divisional lines 58 which are related to the flanges 56 in such a manner as to permit the user to gauge the degree of rotation for calculating the amount extruded. The amount extruded in one-third rotation of the knob 44 will, of course, depend upon the pitch of the threads, on the screw 24 and the diameter of the container. The diameter will vary according to the materials employed, but the user can easily determine the amount extruded upon the predetermined rotation of the knob 44 after a short period of use.

Counter-rotation of the knob 44 draws the material in the bore 50 inwardly of the container. When not in use, the bore 50 may be evacuated slightly to accommodate the plug 52 which provides an effective closure.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. A device of the type described comprising a container. an extruding piston inside the container, screw means for actuating the piston, said screw means including an outlet bore communi- 55 cating with the interior of the container, a grip connected withsaid screw means for imparting rotation thereto, said outlet bore passing through said grip, said grip including curved flanges, and indicia carried by the container and related to the flanges for indicating the degree of rotation of the grip.

2. A device of the type described comprising an open-ended container having a wall and a bottom, said wall having a plurality of ribs extending inwardly from the wall and longitudinally of the same, a cover for closing the open end of the container and having an opening, a screw extending through the opening and rotatably related to the cover, said screw being provided with a longitudinal extruding bore and its inner end being positioned in close relation with said bottom, a flanged piston having threaded relation with said screw inside the container, the flange of the piston fitting snugly against the inner face of said wall and being slotted for receiving said ribs, said ribs restraining relative rotary movement of the piston within the container when said screw is rotated in one direction, rotation of the screw in the said one direction causing the piston to move in the direction of said bottom for forcing material in the container through the extruding bore in the screw, pressure applied to the material in the container being transmitted to the slotted flange for pressing the same against the inner face of said wall, and grip means associated with the outer end of the screw, to facilitate turning of the same.

3. A device of the type described comprising an open-ended container having a wall and a bottom, said wall having a plurality of ribs extending inwardly from the wall and longitudinally of the same, a cover for closing the open end of the container and having an opening, a screw extending through the opening and rotatably related to the cover, said screw being provided with a longitudinal extruding bore and its inner end being positioned in close relation with said bottom, a flanged piston having threaded relation with said screw inside the container, the flange of the piston fitting snugly against the inner face of said wall and being slotted for receiving said ribs, said ribs restraining relative rotary movement of the piston within the container when said screw is rotated in one direction, rotation of the screw in the said one direction causing the piston to move in the direction of said bottom for forcing material in the container through the extruding bore in the screw, pressure applied to the material in the container being transmitted to the slotted flange for pressing the same against the inner face of said wall, and grip means assoclated with the outer end of the screw, to facilitate turning of the same, said bottom including a groove for receiving the flange, to permit the piston to be brought into pressure relation with said bottom.

DONALD 0, BLETI. 

